SRAM XX1 1X11 Speed Drivetrain

Posted by Pete on Jul 2, 2012 in 1x11 | 0 comments

I have really enjoyed running 1×10 for the last 18 months or so. Sometimes just a little more at either end would be handy, you know a little more spin at the low end for easier control of power going up steep, slow, loose, tight climbs, and a little more speed at the high end for those times you spin out. No biggie though as everything is a compromise and overall I’m lovin my 1×10 drivetrain – and with the combo of the XTR shifter and XTR Shadown Plus mech it runs sweet as.

A wider range 10 speed cassette might be cool though and a while back Hope showed off its 9-36 10 speed cassette, I lost track if anything ever came of it . Recently news of SRAM’s 1×11 started to appear on the internet, and today it’s all over the web with the official release and a first look at the 1×11 drivetrain posted on Pinkbike. SRAM have gone way more than ‘just a little more at either end’ with the XX1 being 11 speed with a 10-42 cassette. It looks pretty cool and will probably cost a packet. Doesn’t look like anything is compatible with existing stuff.

SRAM XX1 1x11 Speed Drivetrain

It’s great to see it out there, 1x drivetrains are super fun IMO. I’m kinda hoping Shimano will respond with something a little less than XX1′s 10-42 11 speed but more than the existing 10-36 10 speed. Fun times!